Video: California squatter allegedly attacks beloved mailman; community furious that no charges filed against career criminal

A California community is up in arms after a beloved mailman was allegedly attacked by a career criminal. The suspect is known by many in the Gardena neighborhood of Los Angeles because of several concerning run-ins with residents in the area.

Bruce Jennings — a father of three who has worked 20-plus years for the U.S. Postal Service — was attacked on Feb. 21.

Surveillance footage shows a man approach Jennings from behind and unleash a sucker punch on the unsuspecting mail carrier. Video shows the mailman attempting to defend himself as he is being continually assaulted by the suspect.

"I'm dropping the mail, and at that point, it was defense mode for me," Jennings explained.

Jennings told KTTV, "I did fear for my life. After that, I pretty much defended myself as much as I could."

The suspect is reportedly 39-year-old John Ross.

KABC reported that Ross has a "decades-long criminal history that includes assault with a deadly weapon and burglary."

Neighbor Garrett Rodriguez told the outlet, "The entire community knows about this guy, knows him by his first and last name: John Ross."

Jennings said Ross was upset that he didn't have a package for him. Ross allegedly asked for the package to be delivered to a vacant home that he is reportedly squatting in.

Residents told KTLA that Ross is well-known in the neighborhood for "attacking people’s homes, stealing property, and generally terrorizing the community."

Ross was reportedly arrested last week for breaking into another home in the neighborhood. He is being held without bail.

Christine Cojulun said Ross was caught on video stealing her patio furniture from her backyard in January.

Local resident Carol Nishijima said, "We’ve been trying to get John Ross out of the neighborhood for quite a while now. He grew up here, and he’s been breaking and entering into people’s homes since he was a youngster.”

The community is furious that charges have reportedly not been filed against Ross for the assault of the beloved mailman.

"We have high-definition video footage of the incident happening," Rodriguez said. "We have the suspect’s name. [The Postal Service] just told us they’re still reviewing; it may look like a mutual fight. That doesn’t make sense."

Local resident Derek Martin said of Jennings, "He's the first one that greets you when you move here. We all came together because Bruce is someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty with his job. He's just a guy you hate to see this happen to."

Jennings said he was fine after the unprovoked attack.

Jennings said of the suspect not being charged, "I don’t feel like I’m being protected. [I want them to] hold him to the fullest extent of the law on federal charges."

Assaulting a federal officer is a felony.

The U.S. Postal Service and Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office did not respond to requests for comment by KNBC.

Mail carrier attacked in Gardenawww.youtube.com

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